Takayasu arteritis: An unusual cause of stroke in a young person

Abstract

Takayasu Arteritis (TA) is a rare granulomatous vasculitis that occurs primarily in females. It affects large and medium vessels, primarily  the aorta and its large branches, and proximal portions of pulmonary, coronary, and renal arteries. There is a paucity of epidemiological  data on the disease. Numerous cases have been reported worldwide, though it is more prevalent in Asian countries such as Japan. It is  thought to be rare in the African continent. If diagnosed or treated late, Takayasu’s can have grave complications. Early diagnosis is vital,  though it can be challenging to many physicians due to its non-specific presentation, such as fever, fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, and weight loss, which can often be missed. About 84-96% of these patients present as diminished or absent pulses associated with limb  claudication and blood pressure discrepancies between the two arms. Here we report a case of a 26-year-old lady who presented with an  ischemic stroke secondary to Takayasu.